Anchoring devices for well tools



Oct. 9, 1962 G. G. GRIMMER 3,957,407

ANCHORING DEVICES FOR WELL TOOLS Filed April 21, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 H2 INVENTOR George G. Grimmer I Y v Fl 9 ATTORNEY Oct. 9, 1962 G. G.GRIMMER 3,

ANCHORING DEVICES FOR WELL TOOLS Filed April 21, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Fig. 4

INVENTOR George G. Grimmer Oct. 9, 1962 G. G. GRIMMER 3,057,407

ANCHORING DEVICES FOR WELL TOOLS Filed April 21, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR George G. Grimmer BY WMW ATTORNEY United States Patent3,057,407 ANCHQRING DEVIQES FOR WELL TOOLS George G. Grimmer, Dallas,Tern, assignor to Otis Engineering Corporation, Dallas, Tex., acorporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 21, 1959, Scr. No. 807,821 11 Claims.(Cl. 166-125) This invention relates to well tools and more particularlyto well tools for securing sub-surface well devices in preselectedpositions in a well flow conductor, such as a string of well tubing. Itis an important object of the invention to provide a new and improvedwell tool adapted for use in a 'well flow conductor to supportsub-surface well devices in predetermined position in the well flowconductor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved welltool for releasably anchoring well devices in a well flow conductor.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved devicefor releasably anchoring well devices in a well flow conductor, theanchoring device having locator keys which are maintained in a retractedposition until the anchoring device is lowered to a position below theposition in which it is to be located, whereby the locator keys areprotected from wear which would otherwise occur if they were free tomove to expanded positions to rub the well flow conductor as theanchoring device is lowered therethrough.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device forreleasably anchoring well devices in a well flow conductor, theanchoring device having locator keys held in retracted positions by aretracting means which is movable out of engagement with the locatorkeys upon upward movement of the anchoring device in the well flowconductor, to free the locator keys for movement to expanded positionsfor engagement with a downwardly facing obstruction of the well flowconductor to limit downward movement of the anchoring device in the wellflow conductor, to limit downward movement of the anchoring device inthe well flow conductor.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device forreleasably anchoring well devices in a well flow conductor. At any oneof a plurality of spaced identical internal annular locator grooves ofthe well flow conductor, the anchoring device having locator keys whichare expandable into any one of the plurality of locator grooves uponupward movement of the anchoring device in the well flow conductor, suchupward movement moving a retractor ring out of engagement with thelocator keys to free the keys for outward movement into any one of thelocator grooves.

Still another object is to provide an anchoring device which can bedisengaged from locked position in any one of the locator grooves of thewell flow conductor for movement to a higher locator groove of the wellflow conductor and locking engagement therewith.

A further object of the invention is to provide an anchoring deviceprovided with locator keys held in retracted position by a retractormeans which is movable out of engagement with the locator keys uponupward movement of the anchoring device in a Well flow conductor, thelocator keys upon expansion being engageable with an upwardly facingobstruction of the well flow conductor to limit downward movement of theanchoring device in a well flow conductor, the anchoring device havingreleasable locking means for preventing upward movement of the anchoringdevice, the releasable locking means being operable when the locator keyhas located the anchoring device in a predetermined position in the wellflow conductor.

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Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readilyapparent from the reading of the following description of a deviceconstructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to theaccompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section of theupper portions of a well tool embodying the anchoring device of theinvention showing the well tool as it appears during its downwardpassage through the well flow conductor;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 being a continuation thereof andshowing the lower portion of the well tool;

FIGURES 3 and 4 are views similar to FIGURES l and 2, showing the welltool anchored in a predetermined position in a landing nipple of thewell flow conductor;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the locator keys of the well tool.

In the drawing, the numeral 10 designates a well tool embodying theinvention as it appears during its downward movement in a well flowconductor of the tubing string T. The tubing string includes a pluralityof tubing sections 11 and landing nipples 12 which are connected atadjacent ends thereof to form the tubing string. It will be understoodthat adjacent ends of the tubing sections 11 are connected together bythe usual coupling collars 13.

The well tool 10 includes an elongate mandrel 15 having an upper section16, an intermediate expander section 17 and a lower section 18. Theupper mandrel section 16 is threaded in the upper end of theintermediate expander section 17 and its upper end has an externalflange 20 which provides a downwardly facing stop shoulder 21. A dogholder 23 is slidably mounted on the upper mandrel section 16 and isprovided with an internal annular groove 24 into which extend the hooks25 provided on the upper ends of expansible locking members or dogs 26.The dogs have external bosses 27 adjacent their lower ends which haveoutwardly convergent upper and lower cam shoulders 28 and 29. The lowerends of the dogs are provided with downwardly and outwardly extendedinner bevelled camming surfaces 30 which are engaged by the upwardly andinwardly extending outer bevelled surface 32 of the intermediateexpander section 17.

It will be apparent that when the dog holder 23 moves downwardly on themandrel 15 from the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 to the positionillustrated in FIG- URE 3, the engagement of the carnrning surfaces 30and 32 of the dogs and of the mandrel moves the lower ends of the dogsoutwardly into expanded positions and into the annular internal lockinggroove 33 of the landing nipple 12. The upper end of the dog holder hasan external flange 35providing an undercut annular shoulder or flange 36which may be engaged by a suitable running or pulling tool when it isdesired to remove the well tool from the well flow conductor.

The intermediate expander section 17 of the mandrel has an externalflange 37 which provides an annular downwardly facing shoulder 38 whichlimits upward movement of the packer assembly 39 disposed about theintermediate expander section.

A positioning or locating assembly is mounted on the lower mandrelsection 18 and includes a key retainer ring 40 which is provided with aninternal annular flange 41 whose lower surface engages an upwardlyfacing annular shoulder 42 of the lower mandrel section to limitdownward movement of the key retainer ring on the lower mandrel section.Upward movement of the key retainer ring is limited by the lower end ofthe intermediate expander mandrel section.

The positioning and locating assembly also includes a plurality of keys43 having upwardly open slots 44- at the upper ends in which arereceived the peripherally spaced downward projections 45 of the keyretainer ring which serve to limit outward displacement or movement ofthe keys. A stop ring 47 disposed about the lower mandrel section belowthe locator keys is held against movement thereon by a lock ring 48threaded on the reduced lower "end portion 50 of the lower mandrelsection, the stop ring having an internal flange d at the lower endthereof which is engaged between the lock ring 48 and an annulardownwardly facing shoulder 52 of the lower mandrel section. The stopring limits downward movement of the keys on the lower mandrel sectionsince its upper end is adapted to engage the bottom ends of the keys. I

The locator keys have external bosses 55 provided at their upper endswith upwardly and inwardly bevelled cam surfaces or shoulders '56 and attheir lower ends with abrupt downwardly facing shoulders 57. Thedownwardly facing shoulders are adapted to engage the abrupt up- Wardlyfacing shoulder 58 of the annular locator recess 59 of a landing nipple12. The locator groove 59 of the landing nipple has at its upper end anupwardly and inwardly extending cam shoulder '61) of configurationsimilar to the upper cam shoulders '56 of the keys whereby upon upwardmovement of the well tool from the position illustrated in FIGURE 2, theengagement of the shoulders 56 and 6t} cams the keys inwardly againstthe resistance of the springs 62 which bias the locator keys outwardlytoward expanded positions. The springs 62 may be of the type illustratedin the patent to J. V. Fredd, 2,798,559, and have free outer ends 63which are received in lateral apertures 64 of the locator keys. The keyshave internal intermediate grooves 65 in which the springs 62 arereceived when the keys are in the retracted .positions illustrated inFIGURE 2. The locator keys have lower reduced-end portions '68which'pr'ovide downwardly facing shoulders 69, spaced below thedownwardly facing shoulders 57 of the bosses '55 of the locator keys,and the step down surfaces 70.

The keys are adapted to be held in their retracted positions by aretractor sleeve 72 whose lower end telescopes "over the stop ring 47.The retractor sleeve has an internal annular groove 74 in which isdisposed an O-r-ing '75 which 'frictionally engages the stop ring 47.The O-ring 75 is partially received in the external annular groove 77 ofthe's't'op ring when the retractor sleeve is in the lower .po'sition onthe stop ring illustrated in FIGURE 4. The O-ring, when it is located inthe external annular groove 77 of the stop ring, tends to prevent upwarddisplacement 'of the retractor sleeve on the stop ring relative to theloc'at'or keys once the retractor sleeve has been moved to the lowermostposition illustrated in FIGURE '4. The shoulder defining the lower end"of the internal groove extends inwardly and downwardly so that the"O-rihg 75 is moved outwardly when the retractor sleeve is movedupwardly on the stop ring 'and'thus the friction tending to prevent suchupward displacement is increased. The retractor sleeve also has anexternal annular recess 79 in which is disposed an O-ring 86 whichextends outwardly of the retractor sleeve to engage the inner surfacesof the landing nipple 12, which has a smaller internal diameter than thetubing section 11, as the well tool is lowered therethrough to maintainthe retractor sleeve in its upper operative position illustrated inFIGURE 2 wherein the annular inner surface 82 of the retractor sleeveengages the intermediate surface 83 between the downwardly facingshoulders 57 and 69 of the locator keys. The lower shoulder of therecess 79 extends downwardly and outwardly so that the O-ring 80 iscammed outwardly upon the upward movement of the well tool and of theretractor sleeve in the landing nipple in order that the frictionbetween the O-ring and the landing nipple is increased to cause theretractor sleeve to resist upward movement in the landing nipple.

It will be apparent that when the retractor sleeve 72 is in its upperposition on the lower mandrel section the locator keys are held inwardlyin the retracted positions illustrated in FIGURE 2 against the forceexerted by the springs 62. When the retractor sleeve 72 is in the lowerposition illustrated in FIGURE 4, its upper end is below the downwardlyfacing shoulders 69 and its enlarged recess adjacent its upper end isaligned with the step down lower end portion surfaces 70 of the locatorkeys so that the locator keys are then free to move outwardly to theexpanded position illustrated in FIGURE 4, but engagement of the stepdown surfaces 70 of the keys limits such outward movement of the lowerends of the key.

In use, when it is desired to locate the well tool it) in apredetermined landing nipple 12 of the well flow conductor or tubingstring T, it being understood that any number of identical landingnipples may be connected in and form portions of the tubing string atvertically spaced positions, the locator keys are moved to retractedpositions and the retractor sleeve is moved upwardly to the positionillustrated in FIGURE 2 wherein its internal surface 82 abuts the outersurfaces 83 of the keys to hold the keys in their retracted posit-ions.The outer surfaces of the bosses 55 are now held inwardly of and out ofcontact with the internal surfaces of the well how conductor so thatthey do not contact the well flow conductor and thus are safeguardedagainst undue wear during downward movement of the well tool lll throughthe well flow conductor. If desired, any suitable sub-surface welldevice may be connected to the lower end of the mandrel 15, theexternally threaded reduced lower end portion 50 of the lower mandrelsection providing the means of attachment. The dog holder 23 is thenraised to its upper position on the upper mandrel section 16, asillustrated in FIGURE 1, and the assembly is lowered into the tubingstring T or well flow conductor by means of a flexible line and anysuitable running tool connected in the usual manner to the flange Ztl onthe upper end of the upper mandrel section. The dogs 26 are now disposedabove the expander surface 32 and are free to move to their upperretracted positions on the mandrel upon meeting any upwardly facingobstructions in the Well flow conductor, the upwardly and outwardlybevelled cam surfaces 26'thereof'camming the keys inwardly and upwardlyon the mandrel toward retracted positions upon meeting suchobstructions.

As the well tool 10 moves downwardly through the well flow conductor theexternal O-ring 79 of the retractor sleeve does not contact the internalsurfaces of the tubing sections but does engage the internal surfaces ofthe landing nipple when it is moved thereinto. The frictional engagementtherebetween then tends to hold the retractor sleeve in its upperoperative key retracting position.

When the well tool reaches a position slightly below the position inwhich it is desired to lock it, the well tool moved upwardly in the wellflow conductor whereupon the frictional engagement of the O-ring 79retards upward movement of the retractor sleeve so that the mandrel andthe locator keys move upwardly relative to the retractor sleeve untilthe lower end of the retractor sleeve engages the upper end of the lockring 48. The internal O-ring 74 of the retractor sleeve is then alignedwith and extends partially into the external annular groove 77 of thestop ring 4 7. The internal recess 35 of the upper end of the retractorsleeve is now aligned with the step-down surfaces 70 of the locator keysso that the locator keys are now free to move outwardly toward expandedposi- 'tions into which they are urged by their springs 62. When thelocator keys are now moved into alignment with a locator recess 59 of alanding nipple 12 the locator keys move outwardly into the locatorrecess and thereafter prevent downward movement of the well tool throughsuch landing nipple since the downwardly facing shoulders 67 of thelocator keys now engage the upwardly facing abrupt shoulder 58 of thelocator recess.

The dog holder 23 is then moved downwardly on the upper mandrel sectionby jars imparted to the mandrel through the running tool. Such downwardmovement of the dog holder causes the bosses 27 of the dogs 26 to moveinto the lock recess 33 and the dogs thereupon prevent longitudinalmovement of the mandrel in the landing nipple since the dogs are nowheld against inward movement by the engagement of their cam surfaces 3'8with the expander cam surface 32 of the mandrel. Thus the well tool islocked in the landing nipple against both upward and downward movement.The packing assembly 39 of course seals between the mandrel and thelanding nipple preventing a flow of well fluids therepast so that flowof fluids may take place only through the bore of the mandrel 15.

When it is desired to remove the well tool from a particular landingnipple 12 and either remove it entirely from the tubing string or moveit to a higher landing nipple '12 of the tubing string, a suitablepulling tool is lowered into the tubing string to engage the undercutshoulder 36 of the dog holder and thus pull the dog holder and the dogsupwardly relative to the mandrel. Such upward movement of the dog holderrelative to the mandrel also moves the dogs 26 upwardly on the mandreland during such movement the upper downwardly and outwardly bevelled camshoulders 28 of the dogs engage the upwardly and inwardly bevelled uppershoulder of the locking groove to cam the dogs inwardly toward retractedposition so that the dogs move out of the lock recess 33.

When the upper end of the dog holder during its upward movement of themandrel engages the downwardly facing stop shoulder 21 of the flange 20of the mandrel, further upward movement of the pulling tool causes themandrel itself to move upwardly. Upon such upward movement of themandrel the upper cam shoulders 56 of the locator keys engage the uppershoulder 60 of the locator recess and such engagement cams the locatorkeys inwardly to retracted positions to permit upward movement of themandrel in the tubing string.

If it is desired thereafter to locate the well tool in a higher landingnipple, the well tool is raised into such landing nipple into a positionwherein the locator keys are again aligned with the locator recess ofsuch landing nipple and expand thereinto to again prevent downwardmovement of the well tool in such landing nipple. The dog holder then isagain moved downwardly on the mandrel by means of the pulling or runningtool to cause the dogs to move into expanded positions in the lockingrecess or groove of such landing nipple whereupon the well tool is againlocked in a predetermined position in the well flow conductor againstmovement in either longitudinal direction therein. It will be apparentthat if it is not desired to position the well tool in any higherlanding nipple of the well flow conductor the well tool is merely pulledupwardly through the well flow conductor, the upper camming shoulders 56of the keys during such upward movement biasing them inwardly toretracted positions upon meeting any downwardly facing obstructions ofthe well flow conductor, such as the upper cam shoulders 60 of anylanding nipples disposed of the well flow conductor.

It will now be seen that a new and improved well tool for securingsubsurface well devices in preselected positions in a well flowconductor has been illustrated and described which includes a mandrelhaving locator keys which are adapted to engage in a locator recess ofany predetermined one of a plurality of identical landing nipplesconnected in and forming sections of a well flow conductor.

It will further be seen that the locator keys are held in retractedpositions until the well tool has been lowered into a predeterminedposition in the well flow conductor 6 by a retractor sleeve which isprovided with means for frictionally engaging the well flow conductor tohold the retractor sleeve in an upper position on the mandrel wherein itholds the locator keys in a retracted position and out of contact withthe internal surfaces of the well flow conductor.

It will further be seen that the mandrel and the locator keys aremovable upwardly relative to the retractor sleeve when the well tool ismoved upwardly in a well flow conductor since the frictional engagementof the external fricton O-ring tends to hold the retractor sleeveagainst movement in the well flow conductor whereby an upward movementimparted to the mandrel causes the retractor sleeve to move out ofretracting engagement with the locator keys and free the locator keysfor movement toward expanded operative positions.

It will further be seen that the retractor sleeve is provided with aninternal frictional or locking means which is engageable with a stopring or member of the mandrel which tends to hold it in its lowermostnon-operative position on the mandrel.

It will further be seen that the provision of a retractor sleeve ormeans which holds the key in retracted nonoperative positions until thewell tool has been lowered to a predetermined position in a well flowconductor permits the usage of identical mandrels and identical locatorkeys while permitting the location of the well tool in any one of theplurality of predetermined positions in the flow conductor in which theidentical landing nipples are located.

It will further be seen that the well tool includes a locking means,which is operable when the mandrel is located in a landing nipple andheld against further downward movement therein by the locator keys, tolock the mandrel against movement in either direction in the landingnipple.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, andchanges in the details of the construction illustrated may be made bythose skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims,without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A device for releasably anchoring well tools at a selected levelwithin a well flow conductor comprising: a mandrel; locking meansmounted upon the mandrel for limited longitudinal movement relative tothe mandrel and radially expansible thereon, said locking means when inexpanded position on said mandrel being engageable with a downwardlyfacing shoulder of a well flow conductor to limit upward movement of themandrel in the well flow conductor; expander means on the mandrel forexpanding said locking means upon upward movement of the mandrel and theexpander means relative to the locking means; a locator key expansiblymounted upon the mandrel with resilient means urging it radiallyoutwardly, said locator key having an upper surface inclined outwardlydownwardly of the longitudinal axis of the mandrel and a stop surfacedisposed below the upper surface and substantially normal to thelongitudinal axis of the mandrel; and retractor means longitudinallyslidably mounted on the mandrel and engageable with the key when in anupper position on the mandrel for holding the locator key in retractedposition, the retractor means freeing the key for outward movement whensaid retractor means is moved downwardly from said upper position to alower position on the mandrel, said retractor means having meansengageable with the internal surfaces of a well flow conductor forcausing said retractor means to assume said lower position upon upwardmovement of said mandrel in a well flow conductor.

2. A device for releasably anchoring well tools at a selected levelwithin a well flow conductor comprising: a mandrel; locking meansmounted upon the mandrel for limited longitudinal movement on themandrel and radially expansible thereon; expander means on the mandrelfor expanding said locking means upon upward movement of the mandrel andthe expander means relative to the locking means, said locking meanswhen in expanded position on said man-drel being engageable with adownwardly facing shoulder of a well flow conductor to limit upwardmovement of the mandrel in the well flow conductor; a locator keyexpansibly mounted upon the mandrel with resilient means urging itradially outwardly, said locator key having an upper surface inclinedoutwardly downwardly of the longitudinal axis of the mandrel and a stopsurface disposed below the upper surface and substantially normal to thelongitudinal axis of the mandrel; retractor means longitudinallyslidably mounted on the mandrel and engageable with the key when in anupper position on the mandrel for holding the locator key in retractedposition, the retractor means freeing the key for outward movement uponupward movement of said mandrel in a well flow conductor; and means onsaid retractor means for frictionally engaging the well flow conductorto retard upward movement of the retractor means upon upward movement ofthe mandrel in a well flow conductor.

3. A device for releasably anchoring well tools at a selected levelwithin a well flow conductor comprising: a mandrel; locking meansmounted upon the mandrel for limited longitudinal movement relative tothe mandrel and radially expansible thereon; expander means on themandrel for expanding said locking means upon upward movement of themandrel and said expander means relative to the locking means, saidlocking means being engageable with adownwardly facing shoulder of awell flow conductor when in expanded position to limit upward movementof the mandrel in the well flow conductor; a locator key expansiblymounted upon the mandrel with resilient means urging it radiallyoutwardly, said locator key having an upper surface inclined outwardlydownwardly of the longitudinal axis of the mandrel and a stop surfacedisposed below the upper surface and substantially normal to thelongitudinal axis of the mandrel; retractor means long itudinallyslidably mounted on the mandrel and engageable with the key when in anupper position on the mandrel for holding the locator key in retractedposition, the retractor means freeing the key for outward movement uponupward movement of said mandrel in a well flow conductor; means on saidretractor means for frictionally engaging the well flow conductor toretard upward movement of the retractor means upon upward movement ofthe mandrel in a well flow conductor; and co-engageable means on thereactor means and the mandrel for holding the retractor means out ofretracting engagement with the locator key.

4. A device for releasably anchoring well tools at a selected levelwithin a well flow conductor comprising: a mandrel; locking meansmounted upon the mandrel for limited longitudinal movement relative tothe mandrel, said mandrel :havingexpander means for moving said lockingmeans into expanded position upon upward movement 'of the mandrelrelative to the locking means, said locking means when in expandedpositions being engageable with a downwardly facing shoulder of a wellflow conductor for limiting upward movement of the mandrel in the wellflow conductor; a locator key expansibly mounted upon the -mandrel withresilient means urging it radially outwardly, said key having an uppersurface inclined outwardly downwardly of the longitudinal axis of themandrel and a stop surface disposed below the uppersurface andsubstantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel; andretractor means on the mandrel below the key and -movable'on the mandrelbetween an upper key engaging'position for holding the key in aretracted position and a lower position wherein the key is free to moveto expanded position,said retractor means having means for engaging thewell how conductor to retard upward move- -ment of the retractor meansupon upward movement of themandrel in a wellfiow conductor.

5. A device for releasably anchoring well tools at a selected levelwithin a well flow conductor comprising: a mandrel; locking meansmounted upon the mandrel for limited longitudinal movement relative tothe mandrel, said mandrel having means for moving said locking meansinto expanded position upon upward movement of the mandrel relative tothe locking means, said locking means when in expanded position beingengageable with a downwardly facing shoulder of a well flow conductor tolimit upward movement of the mandrel in the well flow conductor; alocator key expansibly mounted upon the mandrel with resilient meansurging it radially outwardly, said key having an upper surface inclinedoutwardly downwardly of the longitudinal axis of the mandrel and a stopsurface disposed below the upper surface and substantially normal to thelongitudinal axis of the mandrel; retractor means on the mandrel belowthe key and movable on the mandrel between an upper key engagingposition for holding the key in a retracted position and a lowerposition wherein the key is free to move to expanded position; and meanson the retractor means for frictionally engaging the well flow conductorto maintain the retractor means in said upper position upon downwardmovement of the device through the well flow conductor and to cause theretractor means to assume said lower position upon upward movement ofthe device through the well flow conductor.

6. A device for releasably anchoring well tools at a selected levelwithin a well flow conductor comprising: a mandrel; locking meansmounted upon the mandrel for limited longitudinal movement on themandrel, said mandrel having means for moving said locking means intoexpanded position upon upward movement of the mandrel relative to thelocking means, said locking means when in expanded position beingengageable with a downwardly facing shoulder of a well flow conductor tolimit upward movement of the mandrel in the well flow conductor; alocator key expansibly mounted upon the mandrel with resilient meansurging it radially outwardly, said key having an upper surface inclinedoutwardly downwardly of the longitudinal axis of the mandrel and a stopsurface disposed below the upper surface and substantially normal to thelongitudinal axis of the mandrel; retractor means on the mandrel belowthe key and movableon the mandrel between an upper key engaging positionfor holding the key in a retracted position and a lower position whereinthe key is free to move to expanded position; means on the retractormeans for frictionally engaging the well flow conductor to maintain theretractor means in said upper position upon downward movement of thedevice through the well flow conductor and to cause the retractor meansto assume said lower position upon upward movement of the device throughthe well flow conductor; and means engaging said mandrel and saidretractor means for holding said retractor means in said lower position.

7. A device for releasably anchoring well tools at a selected levelwithin a well flow conductor comprising: a mandrel; locking meansmounted upon the mandrel for limited longitudinal movement on themandrel and radially'expansible thereon; expander means on the mandrelfor expanding said locking means upon upward movement of the mandrel andthe expander means relative to the looking means, said locking meanswhen in expanded position being engageable with a downwardly facingshoulder of a well flow conductor to limit upward movement of themandrel in the well flow conductor; a locator key expansibly mountedupon the mandrel with resilient means urging it radially outwardly, saidlocator key having an upper surface inclined outwardly downwardly of thelongitudinal axis of the mandrel and a stop surface disposed below theupper surface and substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of themandrel; and retractor means longitudinally slidably mounted on themandrel and engageable with the key when in an upper position on themandrel for holding the locator key in retracted position, means on theretractor means for frictionally engaging the well flow conductor tocause the retractor means to assume a lower position upon upwardmovement of the device through the well flow conductor, the retractormeans freeing the key for outward movement upon upward movement of saidmandrel in a well flow conductor, said retractor means comprising asleeve longitudinally movably mounted on the mandrel, the key having areduced lower end portion, the retractor sleeve being engageable Withthe reduced lower portion of the key when the sleeve is in said lowerposition on the mandrel to limit outward movement of the key.

8. A device for releasably anchoring well tools at a selected levelwithin a well flow conductor comprising: a mandrel; locking meansmounted upon the mandrel for limited longitudinal movement thereon andradially expansible thereon; expander means on the mandrel for expandingsaid locking means upon upward movement of the mandrel and said expandermeans relative to th locking means, said locking means when in expandedpositions being engageable with a downwardly facing shoulder of a wellflow conductor to limit upward movement of the mandrel in the well flowconductor; a locator key expansibly mounted upon the mandrel withresilient means urging it radially outwardly, said locator key having anupper surface inclined outwardly downwardly of the longitudinal axis ofthe mandrel and a stop surface disposed below the upper surface andsubstantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel; andretractor means longitudinal-1y slidably mounted on the mandrel andengageable with the key when in an upper position on the mandrel forholding the locator key in retracted position, the retractor meanshaving means for engaging a well flow conductor to cause the retractormeans to assume a lower position on the mandrel upon upward movement ofsaid mandrel in a well flow conductor, the retractor means freeing thekey for outward movement upon upward movement of said mandrel in a wellflow conductor, said retractor means comprising a sleeve longitudinallymovably mounted on the mandrel, the key having a reduced lower endportion, the retractor sleevebe ing engageable with the reduced lowerportion of the key when the sleeve is in lower position on the mandrelto limit outward movement of the key, said key having an intermediatesurface engageable by the retractor sleeve when the sleeve is in anupper position on the mandrel to hold the key in retracted position.

9. A device for locating a well tool at a selected level with a wellflow conductor comprising: a mandrel; a locator key expansibly mountedon the mandrel with resilient means urging it radially outwardly, saidkey having an upper surface inclined outwardly downwardly of thelongitudinal axis of the mandrel and stop surfaces disposed below theupper surface and substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of themandrel and retractor means longitudinally slidably mounted on themandrel and engageable with the key for holding the key in retractedposition when in an upper position on the mandrel, the retractor meanshaving outwardly extending means for frictional-1y engaging :a well flowconductor to cause said retractor means to assume a lower position onthe mandrel upon upward movement of the mandrel in a well flowconductor, the retractor means freeing the key for outward movement uponupward movement of the mandrel in a well flow conductor.

10. A device for releasably anchoring well tools at a selected :levelwithin a well flow conductor comprising: a mandrel; locking meansmounted upon the mandrel for limited longitudinal movement relative tothe mandrel and radially expansible thereon; expander means on themandrel for expanding said locking means upon upward movement of themandrel and the expander means relative to the locking means, saidlocking means being engageable with a downwardly facing shoulder of awell flow conductor for limiting upward movement of the mandrel in thewell flow conductor; a locator key expansibly mounted upon the mandrelwith resilient means urging it radially outwardly, said locator keyhaving an upper surface inclined outwardly downwardly of thelongitudinal axis of the mandrel and a stop surface disposed below theupper surface and substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of themandrel; and retractor means longitudinal-1y slidably mounted on themandrel and engageable with the key when in an upper position on themandrel for holding the locator key in retracted position, the retractormeans freeing the key for outward movement upon upward movement of saidmandrel in a well flow conductor, said retractor means having means forengaging the well flow conductor to cause the retractor means to assumea lower position on the mandrel upon upward movement of said mandrel ina well flow conductor, said retrac-tor means comprising a sleeve, saidkey having an intermediate surface engageable by the sleeve when thesleeve is in an upper position on the mandrel to hold the key inretracted position.

11. A device for releasably anchoring well tools at a selected levelwithin a well flow conductor comprising: a mandrel; locking meansmounted upon the mandrel for limited longitudinal movement relative tothe mandrel and radially expansible thereon; expander means on themandrel for expanding said locking means upon upward movement of themandrel and the expander mean-s relative to the locking means, saidlocking means when in expanded position being engageable with adownwardly facing shoulder of a well flow conductor to limit upwardmovement of the mandrel in the well flow conductor; a locator keyexpansibly mounted upon the mandrel with resilient means urging itradially outwardly, said locator key having an upper surface inclinedoutwardly downwardly of the longitudinal axis of the mandrel and a stopsurface disposed below the upper surface and substantially normal to thelongitudinal axis of the mandrel; and retractor means longitudinallyslidably mounted on the mandrel and engageable with the key when in anupper position on the mandrel for holding the locator key in retractedposition, the :retractor means freeing the key for outward movement uponupward movement of said mandrel in a well flow conductor, said retractormeans having means for engaging the well flow conductor to cause theretractor means to assume a lower position on the mandrel upon upwardmovement of said mandrel in a well flow conductor, said retractor meanscomprising a sleeve longitudinally movably mounted on the mandrel, thekey having a reduced lower end portion, the retractor sleeve beingengageable with the reduced lower portion of the key when the sleeve isin lower position on the mandrel to limit outward movement of the key,said key having an intermediate surface engageable by the retractorsleeve when the sleeve is in an upper position on the mandrel to holdthe key in retracted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,673,614 Miller Mar. 30, 1954 2,698,056 Marshall et al. Dec. 28, 19542,798,559 Fredd July 9, 1957 2,856,003 Fredd Oct. 14, 1958 2,862,564Bostook Dec. 2, 1958 2,871,947 Fredd Feb. 3, 1959

